MESOPOTAMIA THE RISE OF CITY-STATES

The Fertile Crescent  The area is located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers leading into the Mediterranean Sea.  Fertile Crescent = good farming = Mesopotamia.  People who occupied this region were called Sumerians.  The area is located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers leading into the Mediterranean Sea.  Fertile Crescent = good farming = Mesopotamia.  People who occupied this region were called Sumerians.

Three disadvantages of the Sumerian’s new environment 1) Unpredictable flooding or little to no rain. 2) No natural barriers for protection. 3) Natural resources were limited = building materials were scarce. 1) Unpredictable flooding or little to no rain. 2) No natural barriers for protection. 3) Natural resources were limited = building materials were scarce.

Sumerian solutions to problems  Problems solved through organization: 1) Dug irrigation ditches - surplus of water. 2) Built walls with mud bricks for defense 3) Traded goods with people from the mountains and desert for raw materials.  Problems solved through organization: 1) Dug irrigation ditches - surplus of water. 2) Built walls with mud bricks for defense 3) Traded goods with people from the mountains and desert for raw materials.

The results of organization  Organization - cooperation - leadership - organized government = eventually a civilization.

The spread of city-states  Each city and the surrounding land it controlled formed a CITY-STATE.  Each shared the same culture, but had their own government and rulers.  Functioned much like an independent country does today.  With the spread of city-states trade increased involving the integration of new cultures = CULTURAL DIFFUSION  Each city and the surrounding land it controlled formed a CITY-STATE.  Each shared the same culture, but had their own government and rulers.  Functioned much like an independent country does today.  With the spread of city-states trade increased involving the integration of new cultures = CULTURAL DIFFUSION

Sumerian Culture  Priests and Rulers shared control of the City-State.  A series of rulers from a single family is called a DYNASTY.  Sumerians believed in many different gods = POLYTHEISM.  Priests and Rulers shared control of the City-State.  A series of rulers from a single family is called a DYNASTY.  Sumerians believed in many different gods = POLYTHEISM.

Sumerian Gods  Both immortal and all-powerful.  To keep the gods happy they built temples, sacrificed animals, and offered them food and wine.  Both immortal and all-powerful.  To keep the gods happy they built temples, sacrificed animals, and offered them food and wine.

Levels of Sumerian Society 1) Kings, landholders, and priests 2) Wealthy merchants 3) Skilled laborers 4) Debt Slaves 1) Kings, landholders, and priests 2) Wealthy merchants 3) Skilled laborers 4) Debt Slaves

Sumerian Science & Technology  Arithmetic and Geometry - building walls, structures, and irrigation systems.  Architectural innovations - arches, columns, ramps, etc…  Cuneiform - system of writing - investigations of astronomy, chemistry and medicine.  Arithmetic and Geometry - building walls, structures, and irrigation systems.  Architectural innovations - arches, columns, ramps, etc…  Cuneiform - system of writing - investigations of astronomy, chemistry and medicine.